Red or white Diesel

[dmh]

Did you think the latest PBO information was helpful on the possible problems of using White diesel in an old engine and fuel tank. I have a 20 year old Bukh 20 I do no more than 100 hours per year, Is is worth getting white diesel or sticking to red. How long will it be before Red has Bio in it as well.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Makes me wonder how the rest of the world cope...

 

[Refueler]

a) Use whatever you want.
b) Who says Red hasn't Bio in it ?
c) There's a lot of rubbish doing the rounds and sadly some publications are carrying some of it.

My Perkins is a lot older than your Bukh and I throw everything at it. Even diesel blends I make for you guys !! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Hoolie]

Last summer we took our 19-year old boat to the Med via the French rivers/canals and obviously made the transition from red to white diesel in the process. I am convinced the Perkins M50 runs cleaner and better on white. A recent service showed the fuel is now pure white after ca. 200hrs of running with no adverse effect from any red residue in the tank. Don't worry /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[RedAdmiral]

Because I use so little diesel during a season I've been buying white diesel from garages for the last three years expecting there to be less risk of fuel contamination from garage tanks than from those in marinas. Never noticed the least difference in performance and never found any water in the water trap either.

 

[desertqueen]

[ QUOTE ]
b) Who says Red hasn't Bio in it ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there any sort of "litmus" test available to reveal the presence of Bio?

Priscilla

 

[Refueler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
b) Who says Red hasn't Bio in it ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Is there any sort of "litmus" test available to reveal the presence of Bio?

Priscilla

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes - you send a sample to me (costing about 50 quid by courier) and then I conduct FAME test at about 100 quid. I email back result with PDF copy of invoice.

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Seriously - it's not a simple test .... many labs cannot actually perform it. That includes most of my competitors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Anonymous]

Do you know what agents or chemicals they look for to detect 'bio'? I am running an Eberspacher all winter this year and Ebers say specifically that bio is not acceptable. I am buying the cheapest diesel available from the garage -- bio is sold at a premium here -- so hopefully OK.

If there is something about bio that affects Eberspacher heaters then it ought not to be too hard to test for?

 

[Refueler]

I would suspect that Ebers are protecting themselves and also that when they say Bio - they mean high % Bio or pure Bio. If Ebers say Road EN590 diesel is ok - then tyou could be using up to 5% bio in UK or up to 7% in France ... others I cannot remember offhand.
Simple test ? No there is not. It's a full on FAME test to detect. You would have to find a lab that can do it first !

 

[dmh]

Many thanks for all the replies, seems that wahite diesel does not cause all you filters to block up, I shal certainly mix some into the red diesel as and when I need it